Circuit closer



4 H. w. BATCHELLER CIRCUIT CLOSER- Filed Oct. 19. 1925 Patented 1....

HUGH w. BATCHELLEB, or wmoosxr, VERMONT, assrenonn'o BOJ'AC MANUFACTUR- ING 00., INQ, OF WINOOSKI, VERMONT, A

CORPORATION OF VERMONT.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application filed OctoberlS, 1925. Serial No. 63,300.

This invention relates to a circuit closer for an electrlc signal device for motor Vehicles including signal lights which are alternately lighted and extinguished in rapid '5 succession, to give a flashing signal.

The present apphcatlon 1s 1n part a continuation, and in plication for Letters Patent for traffic. si

part a division of my apnals for motor vehicles, filedMarch 21, 1925, Serial No. 17,218.

The object of the invention is to provide an in'iproved flashing element for a traffic signal of the type disclosed by said application. v

cuit closed.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1, the circuit being broken.

Figure 4: is a view similar to Figure 3, the circuit being closed, as inFigure 2 Figure 5 ure 3.

is a section on line 5-5 of F ig- Figure 6 shows in perspective the diaphragm-controllmg spring hereinafter described.

Figure 7 1s a side view, showing a portion of a motor vehicle equipped with a trafhe signal including a flashing element embodying the invention.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in allof the figures. My improved flashing mechanism includes a casing composed of 'a'hollow base 12, fixed at a point adjacent to the intake manifold 15 (Figure 7) 'of. to the dash C, and a cap13,

cured to the base metal clips 14, h

the engine,

detachably se- .12, preferably by resilient aving hooks 15 detachably engaged with grooves 16 in the base and cap,

as shown by Figures 3 and 4. The cap has an annular flange 17, entering the base, and

the clips are ad apted to be forced by inward pressure thereon into engagement-.,with

the grooves 16, grooves hooks.

and disengaged froi ii the by outward pressure exerted on the Between the cap flange 17 and an annular shoulder 19 on b ase, clamped the margin (Figure 2).

and preferably of a circular flexible diaphragm 20, form,-

with a shank 22, extending through a hole in the dash, and secured by a clamping nut A duct 24, extends from the workin chamber throu h the shank 22 and 4 is connected. by a" pipe 25, with the intake manifold.

The diaphragm 20 is normally substantially flat. as shown by Figures 2 and 3, and isaIternately flexed to theposition shown by Figure Land restored to its normal position. as hereinafter described. \Vhcn the diaphragm is flexed, the flashing circuit is closed by the contact of a spring contact 26 with a fixed contact 27, as shown by Figure 2, each contact being included in the flashins; circuit.

When the diaphragm assumes its normal position, the spring and the fixed contact are separated, as shown by Figure 2, and the flashing circuit is broken.

The contacts 26 and 27 are fixed to the cap 13, which is of insulating material, by means of binding posts 28, secured to the cap. To the center of the diaphragm is semally raised, as shown by Figures 2 and 3,

by a spring preferably formed as shown by F lgur'e 6, and including two resilient metal members 32, seated on shoulders 33 on the base, and a connecting neck 34, hearing on the head 30. q

The exhaust-gases moving as usual in the manifold B, act through the pipe 25 and duct 24., tocreatea suction in the working chamber 21, suflicient to flex the diaphragm downward and break the flashing circuit. This movei'nent of the diaphragm causes the opening of a passage connecting the working chamber with the atmosphere, so that the diaphragm is returned by atmospheric pressure. to its normal'position, and the flashing, circuit is closed. The passage to the atmosphere is formed by a tubular nipple 36, screwed into the bottoms-er the base 12. The inner end of the IOU nipple forms an upwardly facing valve seat 37. on which a ball valve 38 is adapted to close downward. The duct 24: terminates in a downwardly facing valve seat 39, located above the seat 37;

The diaphragm is provided with a valve controller, adapted to hold the valve on the seat 37, when the diaphragm is raised, thus shutting oil the air entrance, and to force the valve against the seat 39, when the diaphragm is depressed, thus shutting off the suction. In this instance, said controller is composed of two resilient arms 10, integral with the neck 34 (Figure 6) and having terminal hooks 41. When the diaphragm is raised, the hooks all bear on the upper portion of the valve 38, and hold it on the seat 37, as shown by Figure 3. When the diaphragm is depressed, the hooks 41 are first sprung outward by the valve until they pass below the center thereof, and then spring inward and force the valve upward against the seat 39. The suction is thus shut oil, so that air enters and raises the diaphragm, the hooks 41 being sprung outward while they are rising, until they release the valve and permit it to drop upon the seat 37, so that suction is again exerted.

It will now be seen that the diaphragm is alternately raised and depressed, when the engine is running, and thus caused to alternately break and close the flashing circuit.

The nipple 36 may be vertically adjusted to increase or decrease the frequency of the movements of the diaphragm, the nipple having a screw-thread connection at 48 with the base. An adjustment of the nipple which decreases the distance between the valve seats 37 and 39, increases the frequency of the movements of the diaphragm. Accidental rotation of the nipple 36 is prevented by a dished spring washer 1 i, interposed between a bottom face of the base and a shoulder 45 on the nipple.

I claim':

1. A circuit closer for a motor vehicle traific signal system comprising a casing, a diaphragm within the casing forming one side of a working chamber in the casing, a spring yieldingly holding the diaphragm in a normal position, circuit closing and breaking contacts separated by the diaphragm when in its normal position, an outlet conduit leading from said working chamber of the casing and adapted to be connected with an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, whereby the diaphragm will be subjected to fluid pressures produced by operation of such engine, an inlet conduit connecting said working chamber with the atmosphere, and valve means operable by movement of the diaphragm for al ternatcly closing the inner ends of the outlet and inlet conduits.

. 2. A circuit closer as specified by claim 1, said valve means including a downwardly facing valve seat on the outlet conduit, an upwardly facing valve seat on the inlet conduit, a ball valve adapted to close said seats alternately, and valve-shifting means movable by the diaphragm, and adapted to hold the valve on the inlet conduit seat when the diaphragm is in its normal position, and on the outlet conduit seat when the diaphragm is flexed from its normal position.

3. A circuit closer as specified by claim 1, the casing being composed of a base forming the bottom and margin of the working chamber, and a cap of insulating material so- 'curedto the base, separably connected with the base, supporting said contacts, and insulating the same from each other when they are separated.

4. A circuit closeras specified by claim 1, the casing being composed of a base forming the bottom and margin of the working chamber, and a cap supporting said contacts, said clement comprising also resilient hooked clips engaged with grooves in the base and cap and dctachably connecting said parts.

5. A circuit closer as specified by claim 1, said spring being composed of resilient curved members seated on a shoulder on the base, and a neck connecting said members, and exerting upward pressure on the diaphragm, said valve means including oppositely facing valve seats, formed respectively on the inlet and the outlet conduit, a ball valve movable between said seats, and hooked resilient arms integral with said neck and adapted to cooperate with the ball valve, to hold the same against either valve seat.

6. A circuit closer as specified by claim 1, said spring being composed of resilient curved members seated on a shoulder on the base, and a neck connecting said members, and exerting upward pressure on the diaphragm, said valve means including oppositely facing valve seats, formed respectively on the inlet and the outlet conduit, a ball valve movable between said seats, and hooked resilient arms integral with said neck and adapted to cooperate with the ball valve, tohold the same against either valve seat, the inlet conduit being adjustably connected with the base to vary the distance between said valve seats, means being provided for preventing an accidental adjustment of the inlet conduit.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

1 HUGH W. BATGHELLER. 

